4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
And so the first deacons were selected! The word for “Deacon” in Greek means “to serve“. The deacons were chosen so that they could take care of the everyday needs of the people while the apostles prayed and preached.
The deacons, such as Stephen, also preached as they still do today.
In some denominations, such as Anglican, Episcopalian, Roman Catholic and Orthodox, there are two kinds of deacons. Some deacons go on to become priests while others remain deacons for the rest of their lives. These “permanent” deacons are usually more involved in service to the communities they serve. Sometimes they will oversee food pantries, or other services to the poor or the elderly, or they will counsel those who need help, and sometimes they take a job within the church such as business manager or Sunday School principal.
Their main focus is on serving in whatever capacity is needed. The earliest deacons were chosen to help with the distribution of food to the widows. There arose a complaint that the widows of the Jewish converts were receiving a greater amount than the Greek widows. The diaconate was established to end this issue. In some denominations, women as well as men now serve as deacons in their communities, but the qualifications are still the same. They need to be in good standing in the community, and faithful in every aspect of their lives.
Not all of us are called to be deacons or to hold other positions within a church community, but we are all called to serve, to be good witnesses of our faith, and faithful to the law of God.
Gracious God, you knew that there would be many needs that the apostles alone could not take care of and so the diaconate was established. Although most of us are not deacons, we need to serve your people. Please help us to live out our vocation in whatever way you want. Amen.
